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There is never a dull moment in the MBA. The past two weeks have been filled with travels. Many of us went to Atlanta where we attended the 2014 National Black MBA Association Career Conference and later Philadelphia where the 2014 National Society of Hispanic MBAs Conference was held. These conferences, which become a staple of any MBA, provide you with the opportunity to network and potentially interview for both internships and full time offers with top Fortune 500 companies including Samsung, General Electric, ExxonMobil, Microsoft, Accenture, Johnson & Johnson, Delta Airlines, GlaxoSmithKline, and many more!

For many of my colleagues, it was their first experience, which was a bit overwhelming. Picture this, a large convention center filled with dozens of booths and several hundred people walking around, waiting in line, talking to recruiters, and hoping to secure some interviews. Sounds like a lot right? At first it could be a bit unnerving, especially when you have to compete with students from other MBAs. Yet, you will have to deal with those types of situations in the business world, so getting practice early in the year is an advantage. It is also a great educational experience that provides perspective on the amount of opportunities there are for people with business degrees and the immensity of companies that are interested in MBA talent. One of the most valuable outcomes of these career fairs is the networking component. You get to meet a diverse group of people and hear about their careers and experiences. You also have the opportunity to share your story and connect with people that may end up providing you with a great opportunity in the future. In the very least, it’s an excuse to travel to a new city!

Aside from the fairs, you have the opportunity to explore the city itself. I had never been to Atlanta or Philadelphia before, but I was able to explore the city with friends. It was a nice way to take a break from the hustle of Washington, D.C. and also a great opportunity to explore other job markets and see whether these cities may potentially be your residence for the summer or for the post-MBA years. There are a couple of other fairs coming up such as the Net Impact Fair in Minneapolis and the National Asian MBA Association in Boston. Now that we are back in D.C., it is time for us to catch up on work and follow up on those career leads. Although I am a bit exhausted, I look forward to the prospect of interviewing with some of the companies I spoke to and see what job offers I end up getting. Stay tuned